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Best documented retinol serum
Belo Essentials Retinol Deep Repair Serum 30 ml, 0.3% retinol + 2% peptide complex (Belo Essentials)
₱550 with a free 50 ml sunscreen
Quick verdict
Overall pick Belo Essentials Retinol Deep Repair Serum 30 ml, 0.3% retinol + 2% peptide complex (Belo Essentials)
Belo Essentials scores higher overall (83 vs 80): it states 0.3% retinol with a 2% peptide complex, a frequency to start at and a sunscreen reminder, from a shop that has been on Shopee for 10 years with 3.1K ratings on the listing. Dermorepubliq costs about ₱314 after voucher and names more of its ingredients, but its specification sheet has pasted fields, it has fewer ratings and its notification runs to February 2027. Belo's runs only to December 2026.
Choose Belo Essentials if
You want the better-documented listing with a stated peptide complex and a 10-year shop behind it, and you will check the FDA portal because its notification runs only to December 2026.
Choose Dermorepubliq if
You want the lower price (about ₱314 after voucher) and a formula that names niacinamide and other ingredients, and you accept a smaller ratings record and a specification sheet with pasted fields.
The overall pick follows the weighted Wellness Picks score (83 vs 80 out of 100), not the number of criteria won below.
Head-to-head summary
Rows come from each product’s record and from the guide that ranks both. Prices checked 2026-10-15. We did not use or test either product.
Criterion by criterion
Where the evidence is not strong enough to call a winner, we say so.
What you will care about when choosing
Belo Essentials is ₱550 with a free 50 ml sunscreen in the offer. Dermorepubliq is about ₱314 after voucher for the listed 30 ml size. Offers and vouchers change.
Evidence: Shopee prices checked in our anti-aging serum guide.
Both state 0.3% retinol (Dermorepubliq microencapsulated).
Evidence: Both Shopee listings.
Both tell you to start slowly (Belo 2 to 3 nights a week, Dermorepubliq 1 to 2) and to use sunscreen by day.
Evidence: Both Shopee listings.
Dermorepubliq names niacinamide, snail secretion filtrate, cucumber, allantoin and tocopherol. Belo names retinol and a 2% peptide complex but gives no full ingredient list.
Evidence: Both Shopee listings.
Belo Essentials: 4.9 stars from 3.1K ratings and 9K+ sold. Dermorepubliq: 4.9 stars from 159 ratings and 526 sold.
Evidence: Both Shopee listings.
From our weighted scoring
22 vs 24 out of 25 points.
17 vs 15 out of 20 points.
14 vs 12 out of 20 points.
7 vs 6 out of 10 points.
15 vs 14 out of 15 points.
8 vs 9 out of 10 points.
Final result
Rounds count every row equally. The weighted Wellness Picks score does not, and it decides the pick. On the scoring axes, a lead of at least 10% of the axis points counts as a round won.
Evidence and limits
- Belo Essentials: listing checked 2026-10-15; registration NN-1000012451628.
- Dermorepubliq: listing checked 2026-10-15; registration NN-1000015892138.
- We compare what each listing and the FDA notification list state; we did not use or test either serum, and the FDA notifies cosmetics, it does not approve them.
- Not compared for lack of evidence: results on skin and irritation. Retinol can irritate; both listings say to start slowly and wear sunscreen. Ask a dermatologist if you are unsure.
- Belo Essentials: notification NN-1000012451628, valid only to December 2026. Dermorepubliq: NN-1000015892138, valid to February 2027. No advisory found naming either.
- The Dermorepubliq specification sheet lists "Gel", "anti-bacterial" and "non-chemical" tags, a 50 g travel size and a different ingredient that the description does not mention. It contains snail secretion filtrate. "Dermatologist-tested" on the Belo listing is the maker's claim.
- Prices change; a price change does not change a score unless we re-score the product. This is general information, not medical advice.
- Fact-checked and reviewed by WellnessPicks team on 2026-10-26.
